Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

World Programme for Human Rights Education; Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members; Youth and human rights; Extreme poverty and human rights; The negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights; The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic; Contribution of parliaments to the work of the Human Rights Council and its universal periodic review; Effects of terrorism on the enjoyment of all human rights; Human rights and the environment;Promoting the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the work of the Human Rights Council; Human rights, democracy and the rule of law; The safety of journalists; The role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights; Human rights and transitional justice; Enhancement of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights; Protection of the family; Human rights education and training; Promoting Human Rights through sport and the Olympic ideal; Human rights and preventing and countering violent extremism; Enforced or involuntary disappearances; Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; World Programme for Human Rights Education: adoption of the plan of action for the third phase; Technical assistance for Libya in the field of human rights; High-level panel discussion to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; Follow-up to the Human Rights Council resolution 16/21 with regard to the universal periodic review.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2006, Morocco has (in the absence of consensus) either voted in favour of or has joined consensus on nearly all resolutions tabled under item 4 (situations that require the Council’s attention). Notwithstanding, Morocco tends to abstain during voting on resolutions on the situations in Belarus and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Morocco also abstained during a 2014 vote on an item 2 resolution on the situation in Sri Lanka. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Morocco has always voted in favour. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), Morocco has joined consensus on all resolutions except for two that were voted on during the period of its membership: on cooperation with Ukraine (Morocco did not vote on one occasion and abstained on the other).
For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, Morocco has generally joined consensus. Where there has been a vote, it has nearly always voted in favour. The exceptions are a 2014 resolution on sexual orientation (Morocco voted against), and a 2014 resolution on the question of the death penalty (Morocco abstained).
For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, Morocco has either joined consensus on, or has voted in favour of, all adopted texts.

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews1st cycle: 117 / 192

2nd cycle: 145 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2018)?

YES

Response to allegations from government concerned?YES

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 13

Morocco tabled voluntary pledges and commitments in support for its candidacy for membership for the period 2014-2016 on 16 May 2013. Morocco made a number of concrete pledges and commitments at both international and national levels.

At international level, Morocco pledged to: improve the work of the UPR; maintain dialogue with Special Procedures, including regarding visits; cooperate with Treaty Bodies, present periodic reports on time and follow up on recommendations; promote human rights education and training; present a mid-term report under the UPR; and ratify the CEDAW-OP, CAT-OP, ICCPR-OP and the CRC-OP3.

At domestic level, Morocco committed to: promote human rights education and training; and to harmonise domestic legislation with international standards.

An analysis of steps taken by Morocco in fulfilment of its international level pledges shows that Morocco is an active participant in the Council’s work, speaking during nearly 65% of panel discussions and interactive dialogues. Regarding cooperation with Special Procedures, Morocco has accepted 9 out of 28 visit requests and responded to a large number of communications (21 out of 29). Morocco engages robustly with the Treaty Body system, being Party to all the core conventions. Notwithstanding, it is often late submitting its periodic reports. Turning to the UPR, Morocco participates at ministerial level in the Working Group, tables mid-term reports, and participates actively in the UPR reviews of other states (117 during the first cycle).